“Frankly, the guys couldn’t wait to get at me again,” laughed Oscar at the time. “We still seem to be at it just like before.”—Alyn Shipton, from the liner notes

The Telarc release: The Legendary Oscar Peterson Trio: Live at the Blue Note, is a historic collection of jazz pianist Oscar Peterson’s most treasured live recordings at the prestigious Blue Note in New York City. Available for the first time as a four-CD box with all new packaging, this specially priced set includes The Legendary Oscar Peterson Trio Live at the Blue Note, Saturday Night at the Blue Note, Last Call at the Blue Note and Encore at the Blue Note. Liner notes were penned by Alyn Shipton, author of the award-winning New History of Jazz and jazz critic of The Times in London.

This now-legendary engagement spotlights one of the greatest small groups in the history of jazz. Not only are the musicians in inspired form, but the recording catches the vibrant atmosphere of the club. The Legendary Oscar Peterson Trio: Live at the Blue Note features the four albums recorded between March 16th and 18th, 1990, at the Blue Note by Peterson and three of his closest musical colleagues: bassist Ray Brown, guitarist Herb Ellis (both from his famous trio of the 1950s) and drummer Bobby Durham (who had been in Peterson’s trio from 1967-70).

The first disc, The Legendary Oscar Peterson Trio Live at the Blue Note, won two Grammy Awards, one for Peterson’s solo playing and one for best small group (these were the first jazz Grammys ever won by Telarc). The second album, Saturday Night at the Blue Note, won another Grammy for best small group and reached number eight on the Billboard jazz chart. The remaining two recordings, Last Call at the Blue Note and Encore at the Blue Note, were both best-sellers on the Billboard jazz chart.

This is Peterson’s most treasured music—available for the first time in a four-CD box. The Legendary Oscar Peterson Trio: Live at the Blue Note is a collection of immense beauty and intense historical significance that will delight jazz fans and convert those who have never heard Peterson’s brilliant playing.